Sunday 28 September 2014

Birthday travels and Books galore


The Church Oast at Herne Hill - our base for two nights

Today is my 54th birthday and for the last couple of days (well Thursday and Friday to be exact, with the return on Saturday morning) SWMBO and I have been staying in a converted Oast House in the heart of the North Kent countryside. We stayed in the tiny village of Herne Hill which is within easy distance of Faversham (the home of the Shepherd Neame brewery), Whitstable (famed of its Oysters) and of course, Canterbury -famous for being, well, Canterbury. We had a super time traveling around, eating some delicious food and enjoying the hospitality of the 700 year old Red Lion public house - located around 2 minutes from where we were staying.


The church from which the Oast takes its name - directly opposite where we were staying in fact. Its claim to fame is that it has buried within its ground some of the victims of the Battle of Bossenden Wood in 1838 - the last 'battle' fought on British soil.


The village green. The church is directly behind from where this picture was taken with the Red Lion in the distance. Note the Oak tree on the right.





The Red Lion -  every bit as good as it looks. The food was outstanding!


One of the many 'ye olde worlde type building' for which Canterbury is renowned



The main entrance to Canterbury Cathedral. Sadly we did not have time to have a look around but it is certainly one for the future. I have visited previously - back in around 1972 as I recall!


Birthday booty. Really pleased with this little haul for a variety of reasons - needless to say the project list has not gotten even more problematic....;-)

Whilst on our travels we visited a number of secondhand bookshops and the odd charity shop and so I am now the proud owner of the three titles you see above. I should point out that the Barbarossa title actually came from the Canterbury branch of the Works and I was really pleased to get this - especially as it was only £6.99 rather than the £30 cover price. Essentially is is a slightly revised and expanded version of the three Osprey campaign titles covering Barbarossa being the North, Centre and Southern sectors. The Blandford was most welcome and I was also pleased to pick up the Sharpe Companion - both of which for a couple of ideas I have kicking around. All in all then, the last few days have been very relaxing and enjoyable - with a great mixture of good food and drink, history, scenery, new books and most of all the chance to get away for a couple of days with my beloved!

12 comments:

Bluebear Jeff said...

Happy Birthday, sir. May you have a great many more and each one better than its predecessor.


-- Jeff

Robert (Bob) Cordery said...

David,

Happy birthday! It sounds as if you had a great time in a Kent ... and the books look like a great find.

With luck you should be getting a copy of the newly-published WEC in the post very soon.

All the best,

Bob

David Crook said...

Hi Jeff,

Many thanks old chap! It was great to get away for a couple of days and to wander through the Kentish countryside.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Bob,

Many thanks indeed! I am looking forward to seeing the new WEC and needless to say, the new books have given me a few ideas!

All the best,

DC

Ray Rousell said...

Happy Birthday ol' chap!!!! Some nice Birthday loot as well!!!

David Crook said...

Hi Raymondo,

Many thanks indeed old boy! I am delighted that Fran did not manage to sell you at the bring and buy at Skirmish....;-)

All the best,

DC

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

I was at Uni in Canterbury (University of Kent) and had many a lovely egg mayo sandwich in the olde worlde cottahe you picture... :o)

Simon Quinton said...

Looks like you had a great birthday. Many happy returns good sir!

David Crook said...

Hi Steve,

I was surprised at how many cheap eateries there are in Canterbury - no doubt to serve the starving student population! The branch of Subway we saw even had a large yellow balloon fixed to its roof with 'We love students' printed on it!

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Simon,

Many thanks good sir! It was indeed rather special.

All the best,

DC

Steven Page said...

Happy birthday, David!

I have a nice paper model of the Oast House printed by Fiddler's Green. Really nice that you should get to stay there.
-Steve

David Crook said...

Hi Steven,

Sorry for the delayed response and many thanks for your good wishes! I have always been fascinated by Oast houses so was delighted to be able to stay in one at last.

That is one more thing ticked off the bucket list....

All the best,

DC